Assistive technology, information asymmetry and the role of brokerage services: a scoping review.

Objectives: Access to assistive technologies (ATs) is a human right for people with disabilities, but there are a range of barriers, including lack of adequate information. This review aimed to explore the implications of information asymmetry on the delivery of AT and to investigate if there are effective and equitable ways of providing AT brokerage services to people needing AT.

Design: Scoping review.

The social and economic cost of sleep disorders.

Study Objectives: To estimate economic cost of common sleep disorders in Australia for 2019-2020.

Methods: Costs were estimated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, and restless legs syndrome (RLS) using prevalence, financial, and nonfinancial data from national databases. These included: (1) financial costs associated with health care, informal care, productivity losses, non-medical accident costs, deadweight loss from taxation/welfare inefficiencies; and (2) nonfinancial costs associated with loss of well-being.

Disease burden and economic impact of diagnosed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018.

Background And Aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - a progressive subset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - is a chronic liver disease that can progress to advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease (ESLD) if left untreated. Early-stage NASH is usually asymptomatic, meaning a large proportion of the prevalent population are undiagnosed. Receiving a NASH diagnosis increases the probability that a patient will receive interventions for the purpose of managing their condition.

Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States: Evidence to inform policy action.

Objective: To estimate one-year costs of eating disorders in the United States (U.S.) from a societal perspective, including the costs to the U.

Disease burden and economic impact of diagnosed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in five European countries in 2018: A cost-of-illness analysis.

Background And Aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic disease that can progress to end-stage liver disease (ESLD). A large proportion of early-stage NASH patients remain undiagnosed compared to those with advanced fibrosis, who are more likely to receive disease management interventions. This study estimated the disease burden and economic impact of diagnosed NASH in the adult population of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in 2018.

Social and Economic Costs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan.

Objective: To determine the financial and non-financial costs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan.

Method: The population costs of ADHD in Australia were estimated for the financial year 2018 to 2019 using a prevalence approach to cost estimation across all ages. Financial (healthcare, productivity, education and justice systems, and deadweight losses) and non-financial costs were measured (Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)).

Economic impact of delirium in Australia: a cost of illness study.

Objectives: To estimate the economic impact of delirium in the Australian population in 2016-2017, including financial costs, and its burden on health.

Design, Setting And Participants: A cost of illness study was conducted for the Australian population in the 2016-2017 financial year. The prevalence of delirium in 2016-2017 was calculated to inform cost estimations.

Cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: health care system and societal perspectives.

Study Objectives: To determine cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Australia for 2017-2018 to facilitate public health decision-making.

Methods: Analysis was undertaken of direct per-person costs of CPAP therapy (according to 5-year care pathways), health system and other costs of OSA and its comorbidities averted by CPAP treatment (5-year adherence rate 56.7%) and incremental benefit of therapy (in terms of disability-adjusted life years [DALYs] averted) to determine cost-effectiveness of CPAP.

The Economic Burden of Heart Conditions in Brazil.

Background: Heart conditions impose physical, social, financial and health-related quality of life limitations on individuals in Brazil.

Objectives: This study assessed the economic burden of four main heart conditions in Brazil: hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine and structured telephone support for the management of heart failure was assessed.

The economic cost of inadequate sleep.

Study Objectives: To estimate the economic cost (financial and nonfinancial) of inadequate sleep in Australia for the 2016-2017 financial year and relate this to likely costs in similar economies.

Methods: Analysis was undertaken using prevalence, financial, and nonfinancial cost data derived from national surveys and databases. Costs considered included the following: (1) financial costs associated with health care, informal care provided outside healthcare sector, productivity losses, nonmedical work and vehicle accident costs, deadweight loss through inefficiencies relating to lost taxation revenue and welfare payments; and (2) nonfinancial costs of loss of well-being.

The economic impact of sight loss and blindness in the UK adult population.

Background: To quantify the economic impact of sight loss and blindness in the United Kingdom (UK) population, including direct and indirect costs, and its burden on health.

Methods: Prevalence data on sight loss and blindness by condition, Census demographic data, data on indirect costs, and healthcare cost databases were used. Blindness was defined as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of < 6/60, and sight loss as BCVA < 6/12 to 6/60, in the better-seeing eye.

Healthcare Expenditure and Productivity Cost Savings from Reductions in Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Associated with Increased Intake of Cereal Fibre among Australian Adults: A Cost of Illness Analysis.

An ageing population and growing prevalence of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are putting increased pressure on healthcare expenditure in Australia. A cost of illness analysis was conducted to assess the potential savings in healthcare expenditure and productivity costs associated with lower prevalence of CVD and T2D resulting from increased intake of cereal fibre. Modelling was undertaken for three levels of increased dietary fibre intake using cereal fibre: a 10% increase in total dietary fibre; an increase to the Adequate Intake; and an increase to the Suggested Dietary Target.

Cost-effectiveness of Acupuncture for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain.

Cost-effectiveness is a major criterion underpinning decisions in mainstream health care. Acupuncture is increasingly used in patients with chronic lower back pain (LBP), but there is a lack of evidence on cost-effectiveness. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in alleviating chronic LBP either alone or in conjunction with standard care compared with patients receiving routine care, and/or sham.

An estimation of the worldwide economic and health burden of visual impairment.

This study aims to provide a rigorous estimate of the worldwide costs of visual impairment (VI), and the associated health burden. The study used a prevalence-based model. Prevalence rates for mild VI (visual acuity (VA) worse than 6/12 but not worse than 6/18), moderate VI (VA worse than 6/18 but not worse than 6/60) and blindness (VA worse than 6/60) were applied to population forecasts for each World Health Organisation (WHO) subregion.

The cost of vision loss in Canada. 2. Results.

Objective: This study was conducted to provide the financial underpinnings necessary for effective planning for the provision of eye health services in Canada. Canada is facing an aging demographic and all the major eye diseases are diseases associated with aging. It is essential that we have information based on the best available data to support national and provincial vision health plans.

The cost of vision loss in Canada. 1. Methodology.

Objective: This paper outlines the methodology used to estimate the cost of vision loss in Canada. The results of this study will be presented in a second paper.

Design: The cost of vision loss (VL) in Canada was estimated using a prevalence-based approach.

Economic impact of primary open-angle glaucoma in Australia.

Background: Glaucoma is the World's leading cause of irreversible blindness, and poses serious public health and economic concerns.

Design:   Review.

Samples: Published randomized trials and population-based studies since 1985.

Economic cost of visual impairment in Japan.

Objective: To quantify the total economic cost of visual impairment in Japan.

Methods: A prevalence-based approach was adopted using data on visual impairment, the national health system, and indirect costs to capture the economic impact of visual impairment in 2007.

Results: In 2007, visual impairment affected more than 1.

Prevalence of visual impairment in the adult Japanese population by cause and severity and future projections.

Purpose: To present a comprehensive estimate of the total number of people with visual impairment in the adult Japanese population by age, gender, severity and cause, and to estimate future prevalence based on population projections and expected demographic changes.

Methods: Definitions of visual impairment used in this study were based on the United States criteria. Total visual impairment was calculated as the sum of low vision and blindness.

Cost of treating otitis media in Australia.

Objective: Otitis media (OM) is an inflammation of the middle ear. It is very common and associated with serious complications, including hearing loss. This study aimed to estimate the treatment costs of OM in Australia and the associated burden of disease (in disability-adjusted life-years).

Costs of interventions for visual impairment.

Purpose: To quantify the economic costs of vision loss in Australia and assess the impact of a costed intervention package to prevent avoidable vision loss.

Design: Existing Australian population-based data on prevalence and causes of visual impairment were used, and costs were calculated from published data for the five main causes of visual impairment.

Methods: The cost of vision loss in Australia was determined from the weighted prevalence of visual impairment; unpublished data on the indirect costs of vision; and national databases on health care costs and other economic data.